This past April, I took a road trip through South Carolina and visited McCool Ferry’s Road, near Chester SC. If you want to visit, take highway 9 west from Chester, turn left on State Road 535 (Roy Wade Road/Wood’s Ferry Road), then turn right on Worthy’s Ferry Road. Continue about 5 miles to the end of McCool’s Ferry Road. Google (the above link) provides a very good map and one street view (nice!).

The McCool ferry was operated by Adam McCool through the early 1800s. It was located on the Broad River, which you can see on the Google map. This area is part of the Sumter National Forest and is fairly remote.

The above image is from my iPhone GPS program. The smaller road (Wood Duck Road/McCool’s Ferry Road) was gated. I was able to drive to the end of the main McCool’s Ferry Road.

There is one very rough road, unmarked by GPS, ungated but with a Closed to Vehicles sign. I did not explore on foot because it was remote, late in the day, I was alone, and had a rental car. I suspect that this unmarked road goes to the river. Hopefully I will get back to the area and learn McCool history–but I wanted to share this little bit.

Here are some photos I took along the road (click on each to open a super large version):

This is where Wood Duck Road ends and McCool’s Ferry Road begins (my car just came from McCool’s Ferry Road). To the right of the car is the gated road (a public dove field) and the other road is a forest service road.

McCool's Ferry Road looks mostly like this. It is dirt but easy to drive.

This is the unmarked rough road, that probably leads to the river.

Near the end of McCool's Ferry Road

CLEVELAND, March 24 — Delta State University issued the following news release:

The football field stands silent today at Delta State University, as the school mourns the passing of a true Delta legend, Coach Horace McCool. McCool passed away on Tuesday, March 23, at Bolivar Medical Center. He was 81 years old.

Visitation is set for Friday, March 26 from 6-8 p.m. at Ray Funeral Home in Cleveland, and again on Saturday, March 27, from noon-2:30 p.m. at Cleveland’s First Baptist Church. Funeral services will follow at 2:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Horace L. McCool Facilities Fund at the Delta State University Foundation. Donations may be sent to DSU Box 3141, Cleveland, MS 38733.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Coach Horace McCool,” Jeremy McClain, director of athletics stated. “In his 13 year career as head football coach at Delta State; he ushered in an era of success on the gridiron never before seen at DSU. As an administrator, his effort to bring back women’s basketball and lead our entire program into an ever changing world was not only visionary, but exemplary.”

McCool was truly one of a kind. A master motivator, he directed the Statesmen football program for 13 seasons before moving into administration. His legacy stretches beyond the gridiron and into the hallowed halls of Sillers Coliseum and beyond to the very campus here at Delta State.

“In my years as athletic director, I enjoyed my close relationship and friendship with Coach McCool,” Coach Dave “Boo” Ferriss stated. “I enjoyed watching his successful teams and I consider him one of the all-time greats of college football in our state. He will be long remembered for the outstanding service he rendered the university in his various capacities.”

Horace McCool served as the head football coach of the Delta State Statesmen from 1961-1973. Over the span of those 13 seasons, the Boyle, Miss., native recorded 76 wins, 48 losses and three ties. From 1961 to 1966, McCool’s teams reeled off six-straight winning seasons and an outstanding 41-15 record. His 76 wins still stand as the all-time record for a head football coach at Delta State and he still holds the distinction of being the only coach in Statesmen history to have six-consecutive winning seasons.

McCool coached 17 All-Americans at Delta State and helped develop several professional players, including Jack Gregory, an All-Pro defensive end with the New York Giants.

“Coach McCool always knew what to say and when to say it,” Ned Mitchell, a former Statesmen football player and past president of the Alumni Association, stated: “His halftime speeches were legendary. He got you so ready to play that you would run through a brick wall for him. He was always doing something to keep you focused on the task at hand, but not so serious that it wasn’t fun. I’m going to miss him.”

Prior to becoming head coach at Delta State, he served as an assistant coach with the Statesmen under legendary Head Coach Gene Chadwick for two years before being named head coach in 1961.

McCool also proved to be an outstanding leader, directing the University’s athletic programs as Director of Athletics from 1967 to 1977. He became Delta State’s first fulltime Athletics Director in January of 1974.

During McCool’s tenure, the Statesmen and Lady Statesmen enjoyed unparalleled successes on the field and in the classroom. McCool led the charge to reinstate women’s basketball at Delta State and watched as legendary head coach Margaret Wade directed the Lady Statesmen basketball team to three-straight national championships in the mid-70′s.

He was a major figure in the formation of the Gulf South Conference in 1971. Although the league was formed just prior to the 1971 football season, McCool pushed for championships to be declared in all sports during the initial year. At that time, the GSC was a 10-member league with universities in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee. Almost 40 years later, Delta State Athletics stands as the measure of success in the 15-team, six-state league with nine national titles and 38 conference championships.

After spending 25 years serving the Department of Athletics as a coach and administrator, McCool resigned as Director of Athletics in the spring of 1978. He went on to serve the University as Physical Plant Director for several more years.

McCool’s first coaching experience came in the Mississippi Junior College Conference as he served as an assistant coach at Itawamba Junior College and then as head coach at Northeast JC and Holmes JC. He gained national recognition when he was on the coaching staff of the National Junior College All-American game in Albuquerque, N.M., and the All-America High School games at Hershey, Pa., and Miami, Fla.

McCool played two seasons for legendary Ole Miss Coach Johnny Vaught from 1948-49 and also played baseball for the Rebels in 1949. He then transferred to Memphis State for the 1950 season before joining the United States Army during the Korean War. While in the service, he played one season for Ft. Jackson in South Carolina, a team which went 16-1 and lost to Carswell Air Force Base in the National Service Championship game. Following his time in the service, McCool transferred to Delta State. He would receive his bachelor’s degree in education from Delta State in 1952. Two-years later, he received his master’s degree in education from the University of Mississippi.

Prior to enrolling at Ole Miss, McCool was an outstanding prep player at Belzoni High School from 1944 to 1947.

McCool is a charter member of the Delta State Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1978, Delta State presented the long-time coach and administrator with the McHardy Service Award, and in 1997 the American Football Foundation presented McCool with the prestigious Johnny Vaught Lifetime Achievement Award.

He was a past member of the National Football Coaches Association, the National Athletic Directors Association, the Mississippi Education Association, the National Education Association, the Red Red Rose (Mississippi Chapter), Phi Delta Kappa and the Cleveland First Baptist Church.

Delta State University recognized Horace L. McCool by naming the stadium at Travis E. Parker Field in his honor. Through a Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning resolution, the name of Delta State’s football facility became Travis E. Parker Field at Horace L. McCool Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007. In true McCool fashion, after speaking to the team before the game, Delta State went on to rout Arkansas Tech, 43-14, before 7.254 fans.

During a press conference on Friday, Oct. 5, 2007, McCool said, “I am honored beyond words. Delta State has always been such an important part of my life and for over 30 years I have called it home. I want to thank the University, President Dr. John Hilpert, Jeremy McClain and all of the former assistant coaches and players who made this possible.”

McCool was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Bole of Shaw. The couple has three children, one daughter Memorie Naron of Cleveland, and two sons, Mike McCool of Jacksonville, Fla., and Scott McCool of Houston, Texas. The McCool’s are the grandparents of seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. For more information please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2010/02/20/giveaway-finn-mccool-and-the-great-fish-by-eve-bunting/

http://www.maboumines.org/productions/finn

http://bit.ly/6JPYGS <========= Story

http://www.maccoolsirishpub.com/ <========= Website

info@maccoolsirishpub.com <========= Email (in case you want to express support)

http://cgi.ebay.com/FINN-McCOOL-METAL-SCULPTURE-IRELAND_W0QQitemZ190349105025QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c51b0d781

John. M. Coole departed this Life the 8th of the 2nd Month 1815 Aged 69 Years and Four Months.

John M.Coole AG 45 ANd died ON THE 9 day of APRIL 1829

ALIVIA. L. M.COOLE died ON THE 10 day OF April 1823

NANCY. M.COOLE dEpARTED This LIF MAY 4 1823

Interestingly, these four tombstones were transcribed with the surname “Coole.” I can understand why they were but it is obvious to me that they are McCools/McCooles.

1. John McCool, son of James McCool and Ann Wright, was born in the 8th month of 1745 and died in 1815 (from Quaker and McCool family records). The white tombstone shows the deceased age of 69 years and 4 months on the 8th day of 2nd month 1815. The math is close; the implied birth from the tombstone would be 10th month of 1745.
2. The second John tombstone (Iohn McCoole) shows age 45 at death on 9 day April 1829 (year was hidden underground). Records show John McCool, son of John McCool (above #1) and Eleanor Lewis was born about 1784. Therefore, tombstone info corresponds with family history.
3. Olivia was James’ mother. John had a daughter named Olivia (she was born in the early 1780s and married Jacob Weaver in 1811). Not sure if Alivia L McCoole’s tombstone is this person.
4. I am also not sure about the Nancy tombstone. The previous three were together, so obviously the same family. Nancy’s plot was in the row above the other three and 6 plots to the right. There was a Nancy, daughter of Gabriel McCool (son of James McCool and Ann Wright) and Elizabeth Wright. In records, she is listed as Nancy Ann McCool and married Daniel Wright. She is listed as dying before 1825 which fits the tombstone date of May 4 1823. Why would she have not been listed as Nancy Wright?
5. No other tombstones from the same time frame (before 1830) showed a middle name or initial. If the “Cooles” were the only family to have middle initials put on their tombstones (which I doubt), what is the chance that four members would have the same middle initial (M)?
6. Nor have I seen any other “Coole” records from the McCool era. I do not think there were any Cooles living in Back Creek area.

By the way, I jotted down info from adjacent plots in the McCool row. Looking at the tombstone inscriptions, there is Mary Crumly 45 d. 1813, John Stonbridge 11 d 1805, Mary Stonbridge 62 d. 1805, Alivia McCoole, John McCoole 69, John McCoole 45, Sarah Davis 43 d. 1822. I will have to research if there is any relation between Crumley, Stonbridge, Davis, and McCool. I did not jot down info about plots surrounding Nancy. I will have to re-visit.

Hope this information is useful or at least interesting to the McCool researchers. Leave a comment if you have further details about these McCool (McCoole) ancestors. The John McCool line is not my direct so I have not spent a great deal researching it.

From p. 209 of “Hopewell Friends History” by John Walter Wayland: “Back Creek meeting house, built in 1777, was located near the present village of Gainesboro, Frederick Co., Va. The Friends’ burial ground there has in late years been enlarged into a community cemetery, surrounded with a fine stone wall, and incorporated. Back Creek Meeting was laid down in 1829. There was also a Back Creek meeting in Randolph Co., N. C.”